MS inside the body
MS affects the white matter of the brain and/or the spinal cord. MS is neither contagious, nor does it necessarily cause those affected to become wheelchair bound.
After 25 years, even without treatment most people with MS still get around without a wheelchair.
The degree of disability in MS may increase over time, however the course of the condition and the kinds of symptoms people face vary considerably from person to person. Therefore, it is important to diagnose MS at an early stage.
MS - The role of the immune system
Usually, the body’s defence mechanism (immune system) protects us from infections of all kinds. Inflammatory reactions occur when our immune system attacks foreign germs such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. White blood cells - including specific immune cells and activated immune cells “macrophages” – serve as frontline soldiers in our immune systems.
Defence against foreign intruders is coordinated by so-called “T-cells” - key components of the immune system.
In rare situations, however, as in autoimmune diseases (the prefix “auto” means “self”), normal cells of our body can be mistaken for “foreign intruders”. Errant T-cells then for unknown reasons target our very own nerve cells. This happens to people with MS, which is also considered an autoimmune disease. MS is only one of many autoimmune diseases. There are others such as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis or arthritis.
“Good guys” turn into “bad guys”
Since the blood-brain-barrier is damaged in acute phases of MS, the guards of our immune systems may enter the brain and by mistake, as in all autoimmune diseases, attack our very own tissue. Thus, former “good guys” turn into “bad guys”, because they mistake their friends (own tissue) as their enemies. These attacks cause damage to the myelin layers, which are “eaten” by macrophages. The attack through macrophages is one of several mechanisms how the myelin is damaged.
Once the myelin is damaged messages are not able to travel along those nerves as fast as they formerly did. The myelin layers are the number one target in MS. First, myelin is attacked, later the stripped axons are damaged. MS symptoms occur.
